Thread-spool



(No Model.) i

9 W. J. CLARK.

THREAD SPOOL. No. 299,739. Patented June 3, 1884.

N. vz'rzns. Phom-uma m hen Wadiingtun. D. c,

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM J. CLARK, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT.

TH READ-SPOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,739, dated June 3, 1884.

Application filed September 3, 1883. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WM. J. CLARK, of Birmingham, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Thread-Spools; and I do hereby declare, the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side view; Fig. 2, a sectional view through the groove; Fig. 3, a side view of a portion of the spool enlarged.

This invention relates to thread-spools, such as employed for carrying thread for sewing purposes, the object of the invention being to retain the end of the thread always so engaged with the spool that accidental unwinding is avoided, and also to avoid the usual cut in the head of the spool, into which the thread may be drawn; and the invention consists in a spool having an annular groove formed around one end thereof, with a ring arranged therein, beneath which, after the thread has been wound upon the spool, the end is passed, the ring permitting the thread to be drawn from the spool beneath it, yet serving to hold the thread and prevent its accidental unwinding, as more fully hereinafter described.

In Fig. 1 acommon spool of thread is shown, A representing one head, and B the other.

In the periphery of the head A an annular groove, a, is made, and into this groove a ring, I), is placed, of less diameter than the diameter of the head, and so as to remain permanently in the groove. This ring is best made from thread or like flexible material drawn around the head in the'groove and the ends tied, but so as to leave a little play between the ring and groove.

The thread is wound upon the spool in the usual manner. Then the end d is passed outward beneath the ring I), as seen in Fig. 3, the ring being sufficient to retain and hold the thread in that position, but yet yielding so that when the thread is drawn from the spool the spool will revolve and the thread pass around beneath the ring with perfect freedom. When' a sufficient quantity has been drawn from the spool, it is cut off, and the end remains held by the ring for further use. This construction is very cheap, adds so little expense to the spool over the usual nicking as to be thoroughly practical, is not liable to derangement, and avoids the trouble experienced by users in fastening the thread each time a needle-full is taken from the spool. For sewingmachine spools it affords a friction upon the spool sufficient to prevent the thread from unwinding or escaping therefrom, and thus avoids a serious difficulty experienced in sewing-machine work.

While I prefer a flexible ring, it may beof inflexible materia1as wire; but in any case it should be substantially an endless ring.

I claim- 1. A spool constructed with an annular groove, a, around its head, combined with a 7 ring, I), loose in said groove, and adapted to permit the thread from the spool to run off around the head within the ring, substantially 

